IBD cat not eating

[Tummytrouble]

My cat was recently diagnosed with IBD from an endoscopic biopsy, which I'm aware is not conclusive enough to be the full picture. She has inappetence since the beginning of the year that has only gotten worse on the HP diet they put her on four weeks ago. She has nausea and takes cerenia/zofran as needed. I also give her slippery elm syringes (1ml) about twice a day. She gets miratazapine every third day for appetite boost which I was hoping we could leave behind us at some point when she improved but if that happened it was fleeting and not long after she dipped again. She's on prednisolone since last week and honestly, all I see now is lethargy and lack of appetite persisting. The vet has said if this continues much longer a feeding tube may need to be placed. What are the thoughts here regarding this measure? I just feel like we are missing something (cancer). I don't know, I'm trying not to be pessimistic but I feel like she keeps slipping further into a bad state. She's lost 99% of her activity and just sleeps and barely nibbles at what food she can/will eat. I'm at a loss and this is so painful to witness.

 

[Furballsmom]

What are the thoughts here regarding this measure?

I'm not suggesting anything (except possibly a different vet and/or a consultation with a university medical veterinary department) but I've read where the tube enabled weight gain and then other beneficial "side effects". A number of members have worked with cats with feeding tubes, and it was manageable.

 

[Binxie]

Have her vitamin B12 levels been checked, if not I would ask the vet about it. Many cats with IBD need B12 injections that you would give at home.

 

[maggie101]

Try a different food. Shredded,pate,minced chunks
Venison,lamb,duck,chicken. Weruva is mostly shredded meat in broth so lots of flavor. Tiki sticks, and churu tubes

 

[Tummytrouble]

Have her vitamin B12 levels been checked, if not I would ask the vet about it. Many cats with IBD need B12 injections that you would give at home.

Thanks, I have an appointment next week and plan to ask this.

 

[Tummytrouble]

Try a different food. Shredded,pate,minced chunks
Venison,lamb,duck,chicken. Weruva is mostly shredded meat in broth so lots of flavor. Tiki sticks, and churu tubes

Unfortunately she's on strict HP diet at the moment, so no room for any fun foods for now. But I do appreciate the thought.

 

[Tummytrouble]

I'm not suggesting anything (except possibly a different vet and/or a consultation with a university medical veterinary department) but I've read where the tube enabled weight gain and then other beneficial "side effects". A number of members have worked with cats with feeding tubes, and it was manageable.

I really think it may need to happen at some point. I am just hoping she will turnaround soon and we don't have to put her under again so soon after her endoscopy.

 

[Tummytrouble]

My cat was recently diagnosed with IBD from an endoscopic biopsy, which I'm aware is not conclusive enough to be the full picture. She has inappetence since the beginning of the year that has only gotten worse on the HP diet they put her on four weeks ago. She has nausea and takes cerenia/zofran as needed. I also give her slippery elm syringes (1ml) about twice a day. She gets miratazapine every third day for appetite boost which I was hoping we could leave behind us at some point when she improved but if that happened it was fleeting and not long after she dipped again. She's on prednisolone since last week and honestly, all I see now is lethargy and lack of appetite persisting. The vet has said if this continues much longer a feeding tube may need to be placed. What are the thoughts here regarding this measure? I just feel like we are missing something (cancer). I don't know, I'm trying not to be pessimistic but I feel like she keeps slipping further into a bad state. She's lost 99% of her activity and just sleeps and barely nibbles at what food she can/will eat. I'm at a loss and this is so painful to witness.

Update.
She really continues to hate her wet zd food and barely does more than a few licks when offered. So she continues to eat mainly dry now which I know isn't great either. I have her on sucralfate which as anyone who has had to give this knows, is an absolute time suck and pain to med/ or feed around it. I am currently going to be up until 1am just to be able to give her next or really first dinner as she barely ate her actual dinner. She's on day 9 of 7.25mg pred and I have yet to see any real change or improvement from. it. Sorry my replies took so long, I honestly feel like this medding schedule has me in a bit of a rabbit hole when it comes to time and having intermittent breakdowns. I'm so worried about her losing weight again. And she is. I'm still hoping and dutifully medding her up to 7 times a day now, between the pred and cerenia, zofran, sucralfate, and miratazapine (admittedly this one is the easiest). Thanks for all your replies. It does help.

 

[maggie101]

My cat was recently diagnosed with IBD from an endoscopic biopsy, which I'm aware is not conclusive enough to be the full picture. She has inappetence since the beginning of the year that has only gotten worse on the HP diet they put her on four weeks ago. She has nausea and takes cerenia/zofran as needed. I also give her slippery elm syringes (1ml) about twice a day. She gets miratazapine every third day for appetite boost which I was hoping we could leave behind us at some point when she improved but if that happened it was fleeting and not long after she dipped again. She's on prednisolone since last week and honestly, all I see now is lethargy and lack of appetite persisting. The vet has said if this continues much longer a feeding tube may need to be placed. What are the thoughts here regarding this measure? I just feel like we are missing something (cancer). I don't know, I'm trying not to be pessimistic but I feel like she keeps slipping further into a bad state. She's lost 99% of her activity and just sleeps and barely nibbles at what food she can/will eat. I'm at a loss and this is so painful to witness.Elura (capromorelin oral solution) for Cats

Something you could ask your vet about. It now comes flavored. To use instead of mirtazapine if it's not helping

Elura (capromorelin oral solution) for Cats

What is Elura (capromorelin oral solution) for Cats?Elura is a prescription medication used for the management of weight loss in cats with chronic kidney disease. Elura contains capromorelin, an appetite stimulant, that works by stimulating certain…

www.vetrxdirect.com

 

[silent meowlook]

I think at this point you need a consultation with an internal medicine specialist. Most cats hate the HP canned. Forte Flora is a veterinary probiotic. It sucks as a probiotic, but it does have flavor enhancers in it and sometimes it helps to sprinkle it on the food. How is your cat's hydration?

As for a feeding tube, provided the veterinarian placing the tube knows what they are doing, it can be very helpful. But I think you need to figure out the cause of the inappetence.

 

[Tummytrouble]

Thanks, she is with an internal medicine vet-that is who did her endoscopy and who put her on prednisolone. They determined her to have IBD and that is what is causing her inappetence potentially mixed with other issues I'm sure. My original vet gave me forti flora but said not to overuse it and Chatchka had a bout of nausea once that she associated with it and I haven't given to her since. She's drinking very well so far, fingers crossed.

 

[Tummytrouble]

Something you could ask your vet about. It now comes flavored. To use instead of mirtazapine if it's not helping

http://[URL]https://www.vetrxdirect...elin-oral-solution-for-weight-gain-in-cats-rx

[/URL]

Thanks, I do have Elura but we had a traumatic for Chatchka dose of that where she was foaming and drooling. So, even though it's flavored she obviously hates it. I may try it again at some point but it was not a great medicine giving time.

 

[maggie101]

I think at this point you need a consultation with an internal medicine specialist. Most cats hate the HP canned. Forte Flora is a veterinary probiotic. It sucks as a probiotic, but it does have flavor enhancers in it and sometimes it helps to sprinkle it on the food. How is your cat's hydration?

As for a feeding tube, provided the veterinarian placing the tube knows what they are doing, it can be very helpful. But I think you need to figure out the cause of the inappetence.

Advita is another flavored probiotic with more strains and better ingredients. Fortiflora my cat go diaheria. Many vets have not heard of it but you can show it on your phone

 

[jmichaelp]

Thanks, I do have Elura but we had a traumatic for Chatchka dose of that where she was foaming and drooling. So, even though it's flavored she obviously hates it. I may try it again at some point but it was not a great medicine giving time.

I had the same problem. Use gel caps for the Elura. I used two #4 caps (Capsule Sizes) given at diferent times of the day because they're smaller & easier to administer & because the Elura sometimes doesn't work so twice a day helps ensure I hit the right time. However, one large dosage may work better for your cat, you'll have to experiment.

 

[maggie101]

Thanks, I do have Elura but we had a traumatic for Chatchka dose of that where she was foaming and drooling. So, even though it's flavored she obviously hates it. I may try it again at some point but it was not a great medicine giving time.

I give my cat gabapentin 2 hours before her vet appt. I mix it in thick gravy and spread on her legs. Cats cannot stand to be dirty! Even though it tastes aweful. Try doing same thing with elura,mixed in powdery food if you cannot get her to eat it

 

[Tummytrouble]

My cat was recently diagnosed with IBD from an endoscopic biopsy, which I'm aware is not conclusive enough to be the full picture. She has inappetence since the beginning of the year that has only gotten worse on the HP diet they put her on four weeks ago. She has nausea and takes cerenia/zofran as needed. I also give her slippery elm syringes (1ml) about twice a day. She gets miratazapine every third day for appetite boost which I was hoping we could leave behind us at some point when she improved but if that happened it was fleeting and not long after she dipped again. She's on prednisolone since last week and honestly, all I see now is lethargy and lack of appetite persisting. The vet has said if this continues much longer a feeding tube may need to be placed. What are the thoughts here regarding this measure? I just feel like we are missing something (cancer). I don't know, I'm trying not to be pessimistic but I feel like she keeps slipping further into a bad state. She's lost 99% of her activity and just sleeps and barely nibbles at what food she can/will eat. I'm at a loss and this is so painful to witness.

So Chatchka has mostly gone off her wet zd. I can get her to take maybe two bites at a time but that's about it. She often hunches after eating now and it's really bothering me. She does it after both wet and dry and will sit next to her bowl hunching for about 10-30min. I told my vet she doesn't like the wet and he suggested she only have the dry for now. I don't love that either as it is harder on their digestive tracts. By the way, Betty White's dad has some really similar comments about her as I do about Chatchka. They even kind of look alike-it's a bit bizarre. Maybe long lost sisters? Just kidding. But they have very similar dispostions, ages and issues with eating. Mine has become such a nibbler that I always have dry down now and I often hear her munching at 2am. Just some random observations and frustrations in the IBD struggle. In brighter news, she seems to have adapted more to the prednisolone and isn't nearly as lethargic which is a huge relief.

 

[jmichaelp]

I increase the Pred my cat, Dude, takes daily when it seems he is eating less, then reduce it after he gets back into a groove. In the last year I've had to increase his cyproheptadine to a daily dose (but small, 1mg). He eats Hill's k/d dry, since he's also CKD, which allows me to leave it out so he can eat whenever.

 

[Tummytrouble]

Chatchka is currently on 7.5mg pred, 5mg in am and 2.5mg in pm. Is the cyproheptadine for nausea or something else?

 

[fionasmom]

Cyproheptadine is usually an appetite stimulant. It is technically an antihistamine and used in certain other cases though. I am assuming in your case it is being used for appetite.

 

[jmichaelp]

Chatchka is currently on 7.5mg pred, 5mg in am and 2.5mg in pm. Is the cyproheptadine for nausea or something else?

Appetite stimulant. He just needs prodding to eat. Here's his weight since being diagnosed with IBD. He lost weight when I had him on Fluoxetine for spraying after a new kitten adopted me. I eventually had to go to cypro or Elura alternating with cypro in order to keep his weight around 10 lbs.